The National League blew a 6-0 lead to the American League in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, which sent the game to extra innings with a 6-6 tie and thus requiring the first ever Home Run Derby swing-off to determine the winner.
Despite blowing the early lead, the NL still came out victorious with a 4-3 victory in the Home Run Derby swing-off.
It’s the second time in three seasons the NL has defeated the AL, but since 2013, it’s only the NL’s second win in 12 games played. The AL has the all-time edge in the Midsummer Classic with a 48-45-2 record.
The NL jumped out to a lead in the first inning when Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. set the table with a pair of singles and Ketel Marte doubled to drive both of them in against Tarik Skubal.
That 2-0 score remained until the sixth inning when the NL broke the game open with a pair of home runs, and it proved to be much-needed when the AL started to come back later in the game.
Fernando Tatis Jr. walked and Brendan Donovan singled to put runners at the corners, and then Pete Alonso blasted the first homer of the inning, coming off Casey Mize, to put the NL up 5-0.
With two outs in the inning, Corbin Carroll slugged a solo home run against Kris Bubic to extend their lead to six runs.
The American league didn’t get on the board until the seventh inning, rallying against a pair of NL West pitchers.
Alejandro Kirk singled and Jonathan Aranda walked to put two runners on against Adrian Morejon. Randy Rodríguez then entered the game to pitch and allowed a three-run homer to Brent Rooker, cutting the NL’s lead in half.
Maikel García followed with a walk, stole second base and advanced to third on an error from Hunter Goodman. He then ended up scoring when Bobby Witt Jr. grounded out to make it a 6-4 game.
Robert Suarez was called on for the save attempt, and he allowed a pair of doubles to Byron Buxton and Witt to make it a 6-5 game. Edwin Díaz was then called upon with the tying run in scoring position.
Matt Olson made a game-saving defensive play, but the runner advanced to third with two outs. Edwin Díaz then allowed an infield single to Steven Kwan that tied the game.
Paul Skenes, Logan Webb, David Peterson, Mackenzie Gore. Andrew Abbott and Jacob Misiorowski eached pitched a scoreless inning for the NL. Carlos Rodón, Bryan Woo, Joe Ryan, Drew Rasmussen, Carlos Estévez and Andrés Muñoz tossed scoreless innings for the AL.
First ever All-Star Game Home Run Derby swing-off
To determine the winner instead of playing extra innings, the NL and AL faced off in a Home Run Derby swing-off. Each team picked three hitters who received three swings.
Brent Rooker led the AL off with two homers in his three swings, and Kyle Stowers answered back with one home run.
Randy Arozarena hit one to put the AL up 3-1, but Kyle Schwarber put on an impressive showing with three homers on his three swings to put the NL ahead 4-3.
Jonathan Aranda took the final at-bat for the AL, but went 0-for-3 to clinch it for the NL. Pete Alonso was scheduled to hit for the NL, but didn’t take his at-bats.
Kyle Schwarber was named the All-Star Game MVP thanks to his performance.
Dodgers in the MLB All-Star Game
The Dodgers were represented by Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Clayton Kershaw in the game, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto was also there but did not pitch after starting in the final game before the All-Star break.
Ohtani went 1-for-2 with a single and run scored, Freeman went 0-for-1, and Smith went 0-for-2 with a strikeout at the plate. On the mound, Kershaw faced two batters and retired both of them, ending his outing with a strikeout.
Both Freeman and Kershaw walked off the field to ovations from the crowd. For Freeman, it presented a special moment after spending the majority of his career with the Atlanta Braves.
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